Davao needs 300 MW additional capacity by 2025

Energy officials actually visited fuel retail outlets to ensure the proper implementation of excise tax on the highly regulated commodity. contributed photo

DAVAO CITY- The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) on Monday said the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) needs to install additional capacity of around 300 megawatts (MW) five or six years down the line to supply the power seen required by then.

There is so much happening now in the Davao Region and this is an indication of an improved consumption in the region

MinDA Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro based his estimate on applications at the Davao City Engineers Office (CEO) in 2018 from some 40 high-rise buildings.

“Expect in the next five years in Davao there will be 40 (more) buildings at least 20 storeys high, rising. For the 40 applications alone, we are looking at around 300 megawatts additional capacity needed by Davao Light three or four years by now,” he said.

Montenegro said they keep track of these developments because of their impact on electricity supply. He said the current 800 MW supply surplus available today can adequately serve demand. He also said that energy is going to be used up by 2025.

According to him, each 20-storey building requires five to six megawatts of power. That capacity has to be in place in three years.

Montenegro said it is their goal to look at the big picture and match this with the available power supply.

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (DCCCII) president Arturo Milan the ongoing property development in the city in the next two years will totally change the skyline of Davao City.

“There is so much happening now in the Davao region and this is an indication of an improved consumption. We will continue to push the advocacy on the improvement of the basic infrastructure because we believe that this is the only way we will become competitive with the other regions,” Milan said.

The ongoing developments in the city include CebulandMasters’ two township projects, Villar led-firm Vista Land’s mixed-use development in Ma-a, Alsons’ high-rise project in Claveria and a new hotel that will rise in SM City Ecoland.